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/figma-generate-library

Build or update a professional-grade design system in Figma from a codebase. Use when the user wants to create variables/tokens, build component libraries, create individual components with proper variant sets and variable bindings, set up theming (light/dark modes), document

From plugin
figma
1.9k12 skills1 MCP
Install
$ npx -y skills add figma/mcp-server-guide --skill figma-generate-library --agent claude-code

How it fires

How this skill gets triggered: by you, by Claude, or both.

  • Fires itselfAuto-invocation. Claude auto-loads it when your prompt matches the work.Auto-invocation is when the right skill fires by itself at the right moment, driven by a FLOW.md router and a hook, instead of you invoking it by name. It is the difference between a skill being installed and a skill actually getting used.Read the full definition →
  • You can call itInvoke it directly when you want it.
  • Slash command/figma-generate-library

Context preview

The summary Claude sees to decide when to auto-load this skill.

Build or update a professional-grade design system in Figma from a codebase. Use when the user wants to create variables/tokens, build component libraries, create individual components with proper variant sets and variable bindings, set up theming (light/dark modes), document

SKILL.md

figma-generate-library.SKILL.md
name: figma-generate-library
description: "Build or update a professional-grade design system in Figma from a codebase. Use when the user wants to create variables/tokens, build component libraries, create individual components with proper variant sets and variable bindings, set up theming (light/dark modes), document foundations, or reconcile gaps between code and Figma. Also use when the user asks to create or generate any component in Figma — even a single one — since components require proper variable foundations, variant states, and design token bindings to be production-quality. This skill teaches WHAT to build and in WHAT ORDER — it complements the `figma-use` skill which teaches HOW to call the Plugin API. Both skills should be loaded together."
disable-model-invocation: false

Design System Builder — Figma MCP Skill

Build professional-grade design systems in Figma that match code. This skill orchestrates multi-phase workflows across 20–100+ `use_figma` calls, enforcing quality patterns from real-world design systems (Material 3, Polaris, Figma UI3, Simple DS).

**Prerequisites**: The `figma-use` skill MUST also be loaded for every `use_figma` call. It provides Plugin API syntax rules (return pattern, page reset, ID return, font loading, color range). This skill provides design system domain knowledge and workflow orchestration.

**Always include `figma-generate-library` in the comma-separated `skillNames` parameter when calling `use_figma` as part of this skill. If this skill was loaded via an MCP resource, you MUST prefix the name with `resource:` (e.g. `resource:figma-generate-library`).** This is a logging parameter — it does not affect execution.

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1. The One Rule That Matters Most

For every phase, follow this communication contract.

Before starting a phase:

  • Post a user-facing checklist titled `Phase N Checklist`.
  • Include every task/subtask that will be attempted in that phase.
  • Include the phase exit criteria.
  • Do not begin mutating work for the phase until this checklist has been posted.
  • If the phase requires explicit approval, ask for approval after the checklist and wait.

During execution:

  • Before each major subsection, post a short update naming the exact section being worked on, using this format:

`Working on Phase N.X: <section name>`

  • Keep updates concise, but make the current work visible.
  • When a subsection completes, mark it as completed in the running checklist if the interface supports checklist/status updates; otherwise mention completion in the next progress update.

At the end of each phase:

  • Post a `Phase N Summary` with:
  • Completed tasks
  • Created or changed Figma objects
  • Validations performed
  • Decisions or conflicts resolved
  • Remaining risks or follow-ups
  • Then show the required phase artifact for that phase and continue automatically.
  • Only ask for explicit approval after Phase 0 or if a genuine decision fork arises (see [Section 6](#6-decision-forks)). For Phases 1–4, the default is to continue automatically after the summary.

Stable Task IDs

Use one task ID format everywhere: `P{phase}.{step}`.

Rules:

  • Use lettered step IDs only: `P0.a`, `P0.b`, `P1.a`, `P3.d`.
  • Do not use plain bullet points for task lists.
  • Every phase checklist, progress update, validation note, and phase summary MUST reference the same task IDs

**No setup exception:** Creating a new Figma file, importing a library, creating pages, variables, collections, styles, or components all count as creation/mutation. Do not treat any of them as harmless setup.

**This is NEVER a one-shot task.** Building a design system requires 20–100+ `use_figma` calls across multiple phases, with mandatory progress between them. Any attempt to create everything in one call WILL produce broken, incomplete, or unrecoverable results. Break every operation to the smallest useful unit, validate, get feedback, proceed.

---

2. Mandatory Workflow

Work through the phases in order. Do not move to the next phase until the current phase's required actions and acceptance checks are complete. If a phase cannot pass, stop and report the blocker. Do not approximate, skip, or defer a failed phase unless the user explicitly approves the limitation. No best-effort substitutions. No quiet approximations. No handoff with missing source truth, missing visual truth, fake assets, approximate typography, broken interactions, or unverified states.

Phase 0: DISCOVERY (always first — no `use_figma` writes yet)

  • [ ] 0a. Analyze codebase → extract tokens, components, naming conventions
  • [ ] 0b. Inspect Figma file → pages, variables, components, styles, existing conventions
  • [ ] 0c. Search subscribed libraries → use `search_design_system` for reusable assets
  • [ ] 0d. Lock v1 scope → exact token set + component list recorded before any creation
  • [ ] 0e. Map code → Figma → every conflict (code disagrees with Figma) resolved and recorded
  • [ ] 0f. Print a **gap analysis** to chat: what exists in code but not Figma, what exists in Figma but not code, and every conflict from 0e with its resolution

Phase 1: FOUNDATIONS (tokens first — always before components)

  • [ ] 1a. Create variable collections and modes
  • [ ] 1b. Create primitive variables (raw values, 1 mode)
  • [ ] 1c. Create semantic variables (aliased to primitives, mode-aware)
  • [ ] 1d. Set scopes on ALL variables (never `ALL_SCOPES`)
  • [ ] 1e. Set code syntax on ALL variables
  • [ ] 1f. Create effect styles (shadows) and text styles (typography)
  • [ ] 1g. Print a **variable summary** to chat: N collections, M variables, K modes, broken down by collection
  • [ ] 1h. Print the **style list** to chat: every effect style and text style created, with names
  • [ ] Exit criteria met: every token from the agreed plan exists, all scopes set, all code syntax set

Phase 2: FILE STRUCTURE (before components)

  • [ ] 2a. Create page skeleton: Cover → Getting Started → Foundations → --- → Components → --- → Utili
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Ships withfigma

The Figma MCP server brings Figma directly into your workflow by providing important design information and context to AI agents generating code from Figma design files. Rate limits apply to Figma MCP server tools that read data from Figma.

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